Perhaps you started the new year with the goal of beginning a Bible reading plan. The first few days you proceed with gusto. Early in the morning, you open your Bible app to begin the day in God’s Word. You notice after the first week the reminders begin to pop up on your phone mid-day. With a thankful attitude, you set aside a moment for your Bible plan. As the month wears on, you notice that you haphazardly swipe the reminder aside one day. Suddenly, you realize you are five days behind in your plan. What do you do now? Your New Year’s motivation has turned into late-January’s deflation of will.
Here are a few ideas as well as Scripture I have used in my own life that has helped me in my discipleship journey.
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1. It's a relationship, not an achievement.
Remember, the goal of a reading plan is about a relationship, not achievement. I remember when I was a child, marking on my tithing envelope how many days of the week I had read my Bible. Unfortunately, this check-list mentality promotes confining our relationship with our Heavenly Father to a to-do list.
God desires us to know Him intimately. Intimacy is rarely obtained when we view meeting with a Person as a chore. Ask any husband whose wife expects him to take her out weekly. Chances are, the outing becomes a date of obligation rather than desire. The Lord wants us to love and seek Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Scripture is the means by which we do this.
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2. It's an opportunity to understand God's heart.
Think about your reading plan as an opportunity to get to know the heart of God. Your reading plan is a method and resource to deepen your understanding of the Triune God. The Bible is one of the primary ways God reveals Himself to us. Systematic study of Scripture helps us to better understand His message. The more we understand His message, the better able we are to apply it to our lives (2 Timothy 3:16).
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3. It's about seeking God's kingdom first.
Examine your priorities. Ask yourself, “What is preventing me from engaging in Scripture?” Try to identify what is keeping you from missing your daily readings. Perhaps you have not developed a discipline. While we don’t want our relationship with the Lord to be mechanical, there is a place for spiritual discipline.
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus challenges His disciples to seek the kingdom of God first. Part of placing God first includes making the pursuit of Him part of your daily life so we will be well equipped in all things (2 Timothy 2:15, 4:2).
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4. It's about transformation, not condemnation.
Do not allow guilt to hinder progress. I cannot tell you the number of times I started a reading plan, fell behind along the way, and then quit because I assumed I was too far behind to ever “catch up.” Remember that God is not keeping “tabs” on you. God uses His word to transform us into the likeness of Christ (1 Peter 5:10). His word is meant to build us up in the faith, not condemn us (Acts 20:32; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
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5. It's about persevering in His strength.
Press on towards the goal with perseverance. Galatians 6:9 reminds us to not grow weary in doing good because we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. God gives us the strength to continue to run His race with perseverance. Ask for His help if you are struggling in understanding or motivation.
"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12:1-2)
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6. It's about allowing God's Spirit to speak.
Read for content, not completion. I have noticed in my own life, my most productive times in God’s word is when I have focused on what Scripture was saying rather than how much I was reading. There may be days when God prompts you to spend time meditating on a small portion of Scripture, rather than glossing over a large passage.
Give yourself the freedom to walk in obedience. By doing so, you will allow the Spirit to speak to your heart through Scripture. Ultimately, God desires our obedience (Jeremiah 7:23).
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7. It's about learning faithfulness and discipline.
Stop making excuses. I am often tempted to procrastinate and make excuses to not adhere to a Bible reading plan. I get distracted or I come up with a distraction because I do not want to be challenged by Scripture. In Luke 12, Jesus used parables to teach His disciples about being ready and faithful in all things.
The wise were those who stayed proactive while the ones who missed the blessing of the master were those who made excuses for their lack of discipline.
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8. It's about keeping your "why" in mind.
Remember why you began your reading plan. Successful entrepreneurs often credit their achievement to a keen awareness of the vision of the company. In the same way, you began your plan with an objective in mind. Write your “why” down and place it where you can see it. Pray over it as you read your Bible. This helps you not lose sight on the objective behind the action plan.
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9. It's about communion with the Father.
Spend time in prayer before you begin your reading each day. So often, I have found myself approaching Scripture head-on without preparing my heart. When I first take time to quiet my soul, commune with the Father, and confess my sins, my time in the Word is more meaningful. I am able to ask the Spirit for help to illuminate the text.
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10. It's meant to be shared.
Find someone to share your reading with. I recently challenged my son to look up one item from the encyclopedia every day. My mom loved the idea, so she decided to join him. Every morning they text each other what they learn. If my mom has not heard from my son, he receives a reminder text.
I am amazed at not only the information he has learned, but the relationship he continues to build by these daily texts. When we share what God reveals to us through Scripture, we not only process the information for ourselves, but we allow God to use us to bless someone else through the sharing of His word.
Whether you use a Bible app, a devotional book, or a reading plan listed in your Bible, do not be discouraged if you happen to get behind a particular Bible reading plan. It is meant to serve as a guide, not a mandate. Rather, look to Scripture as the means by which you grow in your relationship with God. Remember the reason why you are doing the plan in the first place and continue to persevere for the sake of transformation. Soon, you will notice God’s Spirit working in you daily through His word.
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Cortney Whiting is a wife and mother of two wonderfully energetic children. She received her Masters of Theology Degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. After serving in the church for nearly 15 years, Cortney currently serves as a lay-leader and writes for various Christian ministries. You can find her at her blog, Unveiled Graces.
Originally published Thursday, 17 January 2019.